School District Proposing $56M Bond to Fix Aging Buildings

School officials will ask Three Village residents to support a $56 million bond that they say is needed to make repairs to aging infrastructure in buildings throughout the district.

The plan, which is being called The Efficiency Project, includes upgrades to major building systems such as heating and cooling systems, plumbing and electric among other things. The age of buildings in the district range from 42-62 years old.

“There are no wish list items. This is window replacement, asbestos floor tile removal, work that we need to do.”

The total anticipated cost of the project is $56.156 million. According to the district, sixty-six percent will be funded through New York State building aid, which reimburses districts sixty-six percent on the dollar. The cost to the average homeowner in Three Village, according to Carlson is $120 per year or $10 per month.

“If we did it through the budget it would cost more,” said Carlson. “This doesn’t force us to chose between educational programs and maintaining our building maintenance. The advantage to the bond is that we still get building aid.” Carlos also advised the board to act this year while the state reimbursement rate was still high, which he fears could be cut at anytime.

The work would include upgrades to heating and cooling ventilators, boilers, plumbing and electrical as well as instructional spaces and areas of school security.

Some additional projects included in the bond are:

-Window replacement

-Masonry repair

-Installation of back-up generators

-Replacement of school corridor lockers and folding gymnasium partitions at secondary schools

Athletic spaces, including the high school track and field event areas and the exterior bleachers, will also be replaced. The district also plans to convert additional spaces to create a vocational program for the Three Village Academy.

District Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich said the current tax cap schools are being forced to choose between funding educational programs and performing needed building maintenance projects.

“This bond allows us to address that reality in the most efficient way possible and enables us to allocate our operating budget toward creating appropriate class sizes and funding programs and services for students,” she said.

A public vote on the bond resolution is set for Feb. 4. Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.